DANCERS young and old filled the Chester Gateway last week to celebrate one of the city's long-standing dance schools.

The Beryl Martin School of Dance produced an extravaganza called Celebration Dance Time starring 150 dancers aged three to 23.

Principal Beryl has taught ballet, tap and modern dance in Chester for 54 years and her 100-year-old mother Marjorie, who played piano for her classes until seven years ago, attended the Friday night performance.

Staff at the school had arranged a surprise for Beryl on Saturday night, when she was joined on the theatre stage during the finale by a large number of past pupils who were in the audience.

'I was absolutely thrilled,' said Beryl. 'I didn't know anything about it. I've always said that I'd like to organise a reunion so I was absolutely amazed.

'We all went over to the Crowne Plaza hotel after the show and stayed up late reminiscing and looking at old photographs.

'I would really like to thank all the staff, friends and parents who helped and supported us during the show.'